La Liga 2016-17: Real Madrid 2-1 Celta Vigo - 5 Talking Points

An unconvincing Real Madrid scraped through a dogged Celta Vigo 2-1 in their first home game of the season to make it two wins from two.

With several primas inter pares still missing from the line-up, Alvaro Morata found the breakthrough early after the break, but Fabian Orellana levelled the proceedings for the visitors with a stunning effort just 7 minutes later.

With hardly 10 minutes remaining on the clock and Madrid’s incredible winning run in the league nearing it’s end, Toni Kroos struck from outside the area to restore their lead and eventually claim all three points.

It was turning out to be a quite game at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it all changed in a frantic final few minutes. Here are the major talking points.

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#1 Morata finally opens his account

In his third game for Los Blancos since rejoining, Alvaro Morata finally got on the scoresheet and opened his Real Madrid account again. The Spaniard was trying really hard to win back the trust of the Madrid faithful, and after today’s strike, he has cut himself some slack.

With Karim Benzema ruled out of the clash with injury, Morata started down the centre and after an inconspicuous opening 45 minutes, smashed home the opener in an emphatic style. He nearly got his second just minutes later he was sent through clear by Kroos but was unlucky to hit the post.

The 23-year old had a point to prove to Zidane, but after tonight’s game, has gone some distance to convince.

#2 Orellana will be Celta’s new talisman this season

The attacking troika of Nolito, Iago Aspas and Fabian Orellana fired Celta Vigo to a sixth-place finish last season, their highest finish in La Liga in over a decade. However, the departure of Nolito to Manchester City was certain to leave a gaping void. Moreover with Aspas also inexplicably left on the bench, the mantle fell on the shoulders of Orellana, and the Chilean almost caused a huge upset.

Gifted with acres of space at the back, Orellana collected the ball to curl an unstoppable effort into the far post and stun the Bernabeu as Celta Vigo were level. Although the hosts eventually found their winner, it did manage to give them the jitters.

The Galicians are in search of a new talisman for the season, and Orellana seems ready to give them that.

#3 Madrid defense in sixes and sevens

All’s well that ends well, Real Madrid would certainly not care about their performance after nervously claiming all 3 points, but certain issues have cropped up at the back and it almost cost them dear in the game.

The hosts time and again left acres of space at the back for the visitors to run in and create trouble, and it was one such moment which Orellana made the most of and put Los Blancos into a tizzy. The Chilean was given all the area to collect the ball and jog a few steps before triggering a sublime swing into the net for the equaliser.

Although Kroos bailed Real out later, such mistakes can come back to bite them in big games against big teams.

#4 Blancos need Ronaldo

Real Madrid nearly blew it up today and their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, was missed dearly. The 31-year old, who swept the gong for ‘Best Player in Europe’ earlier in the week, is still recovering from the injury he sustained during the finals of Euro 2016 last month, but the Whites are clamoring for his return.

In games like these where the Portuguese pumps a bout of goals, Los Blancos struggled without him. Gareth Bale, who shone on the opening day at Anoeta with a brace, was slightly under the weather today and couldn’t replicate those heroics at home. Alvaro Morata has slowly started to get into the groove, but he isn’t Ronaldo.

The ace winger is known to devour teams like these with his instincts in front of the goal, but sans him, Real Madrid had to walk the extra mile to gain a victory.

#5 James edging closer to the Madrid exit door

Despite missing goal threats in the form of Ronaldo and Benzema, Zidane opted to leave James Rodriguez on the bench. Now with only 3 days left before the closure of the summer transfer window, the Colombian is all but certain to depart.

The 24-year old has found life hard in Madrid ever since Zidane took over. He has primarily appeared from the bench and this bits-and-parts role has not gone done well with him. There have been reports of a move to England with several Premier League sides fluttering their eyelashes his way, and James might just head out for greener pastures for his own good.